Halfway (ish)!

Hello!

Sorry it’s been a minute since I’ve brought you an update. So here it is!

Cycle Specifics

Since my last post we have had 2 doctors appointments.

On Wednesday we did an ultrasound and bloodwork to look at follicles (future eggs) and estrogen levels. They couldn’t see any follicles yet but they assured us that was totally normal. My estrogen was a little lower than they wanted it at this point, so they upped one of my medications to try and encourage it to rise.

I was very nervous about upping this dosage because it’s the most painful medication. Thankfully, Andrew is an absolute rockstar and when we injected the first upped dose, it was the least painful it had been this whole time. He is a miracle worker.

Today we went back to the clinic and saw follicles and a rise in estrogen levels! Hooray! We stay with the same dosages through Sunday, and will go in Monday to start our last medication, get another ultrasound, hopefully find out when exactly our egg retrieval will be.

Everything Else

This process has been wild. It is a true testament to modern science that it is even possible and boy let me tell you, it is a test of your mental and emotional strength and physical limits.

I thought for sure that the shots would be the worst part, and while they definitely are not fun, it’s the mental and emotional load that has been harder. Hurry up and wait is truly the perfect phrase. This whole experience is waiting to see if your body is responding correctly, waiting to see what meds you’re supposed to take, waiting to see if you even get any healthy eggs/embryos, the list goes on.

I could not do this without Andrew and we could not do this without God.

One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 43.

These have been a sort of mantra for me through this process and have brought me so much comfort to know we are not alone in this. When I start to fear the future and the what ifs, this verse brings my focus back to God.

Prayer Requests

1. Finances- we will be paying our bill for this round in a few days and honestly it makes me want to throw up. We have a good amount saved for this, $10k is nothing to sneeze at. Please pray that God blesses us financially in a way that we could not have worked out for ourselves. And please pray for us to stay focused on him and not the anxiety that comes along with spending this money.

2. Side Effects- I have been one of the lucky ones I think to not have terrible side effects. I am very bloated/swollen and will continue to be so as we get closer to the retrieval date. I have had some headaches but nothing unmanageable, but please pray for continued minimal side effects as well as no new side effects from the last medication we will be starting on Monday.

3. Outcomes- We are boldly praying for lots of healthy eggs and at least 2 but preferably 3 healthy embryos at the end of all this. Please join us in praying for our future babies and that God blesses us with the exact right amount of embryos to complete our family.